LMC Softball falls after a close game

Bats fall silent when they’re needed most

Katherine Mustar

LMC softball player Tamia Roberts catches a blooper in right field.

Juan Cebreiros, Staff Writer

The Los Medanos College Mustangs Softball team fell to the Solano College Falcons 7-5 on April 7 at the home field of the Mustangs. Across the final three innings, the Mustangs combined to record just two hits while the Falcons took the lead and never relinquished it. 

In the top of the first inning, Naiya Watts singled home a run to give Solano an early 1-0 lead. However, their lead would not last long as Tamia Roberts led off for the Mustangs with a single and managed to advance to second following a throwing error by the Falcons. After stealing third, Roberts would come around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game at one. 

In the second inning, Mustangs pitcher Charlize Howay struck out the side and swung the momentum back in favor of the Mustangs. In the bottom half of the inning, the Mustangs took a three run lead after run scoring singles from Natalia Sanchez and Melissa Becerra gave the Mustangs a 4-1 lead. 

However, the lead did not last long as the Falcons answered back with a three run rally of their own when Watts singled home two more runs and then later in the inning scored on a throwing error by Mustangs infielder Natalia Sanchez that tied the game at three. 

In the top of the fourth inning, Howay had a runner on second with two outs and looked to keep the game tied at four. Bianca Belo-Diaz singled to left and the runner from second looked to score. Mustangs left fielder Isabella Gonzalez fielded the ball and threw the runner out at home plate. However, the runner was ruled safe and the run scored as the home plate umpire ruled Sanchez was in the way of the runner and obstruction was called, giving the Falcons a 5-4 lead. 

The Mustangs immediately tied the game back up when Roberts scored on a single to left by Howay. However, this is all the Mustangs would score this inning. Priscilla Self singled to right and Howay tried to score, but was thrown out at home plate keeping the game tied at five. Solano retook the lead when Watts scored on a wild pitch that put the Falcons up 6-5. 

The Mustangs bats went quiet as they recorded just two hits over the next three innings while Solano added another run in the seventh inning to secure a 7-5 victory over the Mustangs.